A Look Inside the Dutch Design Workspace

The first thing you notice about the Dutch Design Workspace in Parel is that instead of snaking on the floors, the cables hang from the ceiling in a bright orange hexagonal formation, making them easily and neatly accessible. There’s thus little chance that you will trip over them. It’s the kind of thoughtful design element that the Dutch are renowned for—executed here by the acclaimed husband-and-wife duo behind the Rotterdam-based Studio Makkink & Bey. The nearly-2,000 square feet Workspace, with 20 feet high ceilings and movable work dividers made of colourful panels, has been created thanks to a Netherlands government-sponsored initiative and more importantly, is open to anyone who wishes to rent it out for a day, week, month or longer.

The only stipulation? That you be a designer, whether in the arena of architecture, products, graphics, arts or fashion. Director Anuradha Gupta says the mission of the Workspace, which opened this February, is two-fold: to promote dialogue between Dutch and Indian designers, and to help Dutch designers do more business here. To that end, the Workspace has been filled with a steady stream of visitors, including most recently, a team from the BMW Guggenheim Lab, which will set up a creative think tank in Mumbai later this year, and Dutch product designer Tjeerd Veenhoven, who has created a “vegetarian” alternative to leather fashioned from the palm leaf. In June, the Workspace will host a screening of a TEDx event taking place in Amsterdam, in tandem with a series of talks by Dutch and Indian designers.

Soon, the studio will display several works donated by Dutch designers, and may also house a small retail store. Gupta says they plan to organise an event a month, and will even sponsor projects if the idea is particularly good. To get onto the Dutch Design Workspace mailing list or to book a work desk, email info@dutchdesignworkspaceindia.com or visit Dutchdesignworkspaceindia.com.

Prices for a work desk begin at Rs340 per hour.

Dutch Design Workspace India

Location4 Podar Center
85 Parel Post Office Lane
Dr. BR Ambedkar Road
Parel (East)

Phone6526 2862

Websitewww.dutchdesignworkspaceindia.com